The Research On The Current Situation And Factors Influencing The Relationship Between Tutors And Postgraduates In Local Universities

As two important subjects in postgraduate education,the relationship between tutors and postgraduates is the most basic interpersonal relationship in postgraduate education,and is closely related to the quality of postgraduate education.As local universities are the main force in cultivating postgraduates in China,constructing a harmonious tutor-postgraduate relationship can effectively promote the high-quality development of postgraduate education in local universities.The aim of this research is to investigate the current situation of tutor-postgraduate relationships in local universities and the key factors in forming ideal tutor-postgraduate relationships,to analyse the problems that exist in local universities in the light of the characteristics of postgraduate education in local universities and the relevant initiatives of L University,and to provide targeted strategies for effectively building and optimising tutor-postgraduate relationships in local universities.Based on a systematic review of the literature and analysis of the interview results,six types of tutor-postgraduate relationships and four major influencing factors were derived.Based on the cognitive,affective and behavioural components,the tutor-postgraduate relationships are classified into six types: authoritative-dominant,task cooperative,harmonious teacher-friend,detached-loose,employed-utilitarian and conflict-antagonistic;the four major influencing factors include postgraduate factors,tutor factors,school factors and social factors.Based on this,the questionnaire "Factors influencing the relationship between postgraduate students and their tutors in local universities" was developed,and a random sampling method was adopted to implement the survey research in L University.The analysis of the results showed that the main type of tutor-postgraduate relationship in this research at the L University was the harmonious teacher-friend type,followed by the task-cooperative and authoritative-dominant types,and the satisfaction of postgraduate students with the tutor-postgraduate relationship was high.In terms of individual characteristics,there are significant individual differences between the different types of tutor-postgraduate relationships in terms of gender and first-degree discipline category of postgraduate students;The influence of tutor background on the type of tutor-postgraduate relationship,which varies significantly according to the age group,title,administrative position,part-time employment outside the university and number of students tutored by the tutor;In terms of the influence of tutor-postgraduate interaction on the type of tutor-postgraduate relationship,the type of tutor-postgraduate relationship will show significant differences depending on the way,frequency,time,place,content and effectiveness of the interaction between tutors and postgraduates.The key factors affecting the ideal type of tutor-postgraduate relationship are the tutor factor,the postgraduate student factor,the tutor’s personality traits,the tutorial input,and the postgraduate student’s personality trait factor affecting the formation of a harmonious teacher-friend type.Based on the results of the interviews and the collation of open-ended questions in the questionnaire,it was found that there were three major problems in the construction of the tutor-postgraduate relationship at the L University: the lack of tutor-postgraduate interaction,the unequal status of tutor-postgraduate,and the unreasonable school management and system construction.Based on the analysis of the interview results and the analysis of the empirical research,combined with the actual situation of L University and in response to the problems that exist,this research proposes countermeasures to optimise the tutor-postgraduate relationship in local universities:Firstly,the tutor level should adhere to moral education and clarify power,responsibility and benefit;consolidate scientific research ability and actively care for postgraduates;improve the level of tutorial interaction and enhance educational wisdom.Secondly,postgraduates should clarify their subject status,improve their initiative and motivation,strengthen their self-regulation ability and increase their learning level.Furthermore,local universities should attach importance to the cultivation of high-quality tutors and optimize the team structure;improve the system related to tutorials to protect the rights and interests of tutors;enrich tutorial exchange activities to deepen the sense of identity of tutors.Finally,the society should strengthen the system supply and improve the institutional mechanism;create a good atmosphere for tutor-postgraduate and play a guiding role.